Safety touch button system having an intercommunications link

Abstract

Apparatus and associated methods relate to dual safety touch button systems for generating machine operation commands, according to predetermined safety guidelines, from status information received via an intercommunications link (ICL) operably connecting the dual safety touch buttons (STBs). In an illustrative example, each of a pair of STBs includes a processor configured to receive, via an intercommunications link port, status information from the other STB. In response to the received information and predetermined safety guidelines, the STBs may generate machine operation commands that operate a pair of relay switches. In some embodiments, each STB may be activated within a substantially simultaneous period (e.g., less than 0.5 seconds) to actuate corresponding relay switches for operating a potentially dangerous machine.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A two hand control safety system, the system comprising:
 a first safety touch button (STB) comprising: 
 a housing; 
 a sensor configured to generate a presence signal in response to the proximity of an operator's hand to the housing; 
 a relay control output interface (RCOI) configured to transmit a relay command signal to a relay; 
 an intercommunications link port operatively coupled to an intercommunication link (ICL); 
 a controller operably coupled to the sensor, the RCOI and the intercommunications link port; 
 a data store operably coupled to the controller, wherein the data store comprises a program of instructions that, when executed by the controller, cause the controller to perform operations to actuate a relay, the operations comprising: 
 generate a relay command signal in response to the generated presence signal according to predetermined safety standard criteria; 
 transmit the generated relay command to the relay via the RCOI; 
 send, via the ICL port, outbound messages indicating a status of the STB; 
 receive inbound messages via the ICL; and, 
 generate a second relay command signal in response to the received inbound messages. 
 
     
     
       2. The two hand control safety system of  claim 1 , wherein the ICL comprises a serial data channel. 
     
     
       3. The two hand control safety system of  claim 1 , wherein the ICL comprises an optical data channel. 
     
     
       4. The two hand control safety system of  claim 1 , wherein the ICL port further comprises a wireless network component. 
     
     
       5. The two hand control safety system of  claim 4 , wherein the ICL comprises a wireless channel. 
     
     
       6. The two hand control safety system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second STB comprising:
 a second housing; 
 a second sensor configured to generate a second presence signal in response to the proximity of an operator's hand to the second housing; 
 a second relay control output interface (RCOI) configured to transmit a third relay command signal to a second relay; 
 a second intercommunications link port operatively coupled to the intercommunication link (ICL); 
 a second controller operably coupled to the second sensor, the second RCOI and the second intercommunications link port; 
 a second data store operably coupled to the second controller, wherein the second data store comprises a second program of instructions that, when executed by the second controller, cause the second controller to perform operations to actuate a second relay, the operations comprising: 
 generate a third relay command signal in response to the generated second presence signal according to predetermined safety standard criteria; 
 transmit the generated third relay command to the second relay via the second RCOI; 
 send, via the second ICL port, outbound messages indicating a status of the second STB; 
 receive inbound messages indicating the status of the first STB via the ICL; and, 
 generate a fourth relay command signal in response to the received inbound messages. 
 
     
     
       7. The two hand control safety system of  claim 6 , wherein the ICL transfers bidirectional communications between the first STB and the second STB. 
     
     
       8. The two hand control safety system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a translucent material such that indicator lights disposed in the housing of the first STB indicate the status of the STB, wherein the indicator lights may flash in a predetermined pattern to indicate a fault in the first STB. 
     
     
       9. The two hand control safety system of  claim 8 , wherein the indicator lights may flash different colors to indicate a status of the first STB. 
     
     
       10. The two hand control safety system of  claim 1 , the operations further comprising instructions for self-diagnostic routines to determine whether the sensor is functioning properly. 
     
     
       11. A two hand control safety system, the system comprising:
 a first safety touch button (STB) comprising: 
 a housing; 
 a sensor configured to generate a presence signal in response to the proximity of an operator's hand to the housing; 
 a relay control output interface (RCOI) configured to transmit a relay command signal to a relay; 
 an intercommunications link port operatively coupled to an intercommunication link (ICL); 
 a controller operably coupled to the sensor, the RCOI and the intercommunications link port; 
 a data store operably coupled to the controller, wherein the data store comprises a program of instructions that, when executed by the controller, cause the controller to perform operations to actuate a relay, the operations comprising: 
 generate a relay command signal in response to the generated presence signal according to predetermined safety standard criteria; 
 transmit the generated relay command to the relay via the RCOI; and 
 send, via the ICL port, outbound messages indicating a status of the STB. 
 
     
     
       12. The two hand control safety system of  claim 11 , wherein the ICL comprises a serial data channel. 
     
     
       13. The two hand control safety system of  claim 11 , wherein the ICL comprises an optical data channel. 
     
     
       14. The two hand control safety system of  claim 11 , wherein the ICL port further comprises a wireless network component. 
     
     
       15. The two hand control safety system of  claim 14 , wherein the ICL comprises a wireless channel. 
     
     
       16. The two hand control safety system of  claim 11 , wherein the housing comprises a translucent material such that indicator lights display in a predetermined pattern to indicate the status of the STB. 
     
     
       17. The two hand control safety system of  claim 16 , wherein the indicator lights may flash different colors to indicate a status of the first STB. 
     
     
       18. A two hand control safety system, the system comprising:
 a first safety touch button (STB) comprising: 
 a housing; 
 a sensor configured to generate a presence signal in response to the proximity of an operator's hand to the housing; 
 a relay control output interface (RCOI) configured to transmit a relay command signal to a relay; 
 a means for transferring bidirectional communications between the first STB and an external device; 
 a controller operably coupled to the sensor, the RCOI and the transferring means; 
 a data store operably coupled to the controller, wherein the data store comprises a program of instructions that, when executed by the controller, cause the controller to perform operations to actuate a relay, the operations comprising: 
 generate a relay command signal in response to the generated presence signal according to predetermined safety standard criteria; 
 transmit the generated relay command to the relay via the RCOI; 
 send, via the transferring means, outbound messages indicating a status of the STB; 
 receive inbound messages via the transferring means; and, 
 generate a second relay command signal in response to the received inbound messages. 
 
     
     
       19. The two hand control safety system of  claim 18 , wherein the transferring means comprises a serial data channel. 
     
     
       20. The two hand control safety system of  claim 18 , wherein the transferring means comprises an optical data channel.